Potter and Potter Auctions' mid-summer sale on July 27 was one hot ticket and marked the debut for the Toys and Pop Culture Division for the Chicago-area auction firm. Prices reported include the company's 20-percent buyer's premium.
This auction offered a world series caliber selection of baseball cards and related sports merchandise, with several lots taking MVP status. Lot #551, a 1951 PSA VG 3 Bowman Mickey Mantle rookie card, No. 253, was estimated at $1,000-$2,000 and made $5,040. Lot #611, a storage box of N.Y. Yankees cards including 98 autographed cards from the 2004 Upper Deck Classic Scripts, 100-plus autographed cards from the 2003 Upper Deck Yankees Signature Series, and 44 autographed cards from the 2000 Upper Deck Chirography series was estimated at $500-$1,000 and traded hands at $2,880. Lot #565, a 1968 PSA NM—MT 8 Topps Mets Rookies Jerry Koosman / Nolan Ryan card, No. 177, was estimated at $1,000-$2,000 and sold for $3,120, and a Topps N.Y. Yankees baseball card collection, individually sleeved and neatly organized by year or series, estimated at $300-$500, realized $2,400.
Fine selections of pop culture ephemera also left a lasting impression on bidders. Lot #658, a "Yellow Submarine" production pencil drawing signed by all four members of the Beatles, reached its crescendo at $7,800. And lot #524, five pulp issues of PEP/Ginger Stories, published in Wilmington, Del., by King Publishing from 1929-32, sold for $300 on a $50-$100 preauction estimate.
Shifting into fifth gear, this sale produced extraordinary prices on a number of pristine Corgi character vehicles. Lot #276, the James Bond Aston Martin DB5 #261A, in perfect condition, had a number of determined bidders chasing it to $1,146. Lot #277, a rocket firing Batmobile #267 in its original box, traded hands at $960. Lot #278, a Bat-Boat and Trailer #107 in its original box, made $720. Lot #279, A Monkeemobile #277A, was driven to $480, while another favorite, lot #283, the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang #266A, sold for $420.
Vintage comic books were another key category in this sale. Lot #405, “Fighting Yank,” number 23 from Nedor, battled its way to $1,680 on its $250-$350 estimate. Lot #356, “Batman” number 65 from DC Comics, made $780 on its $150-$250 estimate. And lot #412, “Iron Fist” number 1 from Marvel Comics, put the pedal to the metal. This comic, featuring the epic fight between Iron Fist and Iron Man, accelerated to $300 and had a $50-$100 estimate.
Entertainment posters and works of art framed this sale in the best possible way. Lot #49, a matted and signed Stan Lee print of Peter Parker turning into “Spider-man,” was estimated at $50-$100 and sold for $270. All eyes were on lot #66, a Jimi Hendrix “Flying Eyeball” concert poster from 1968. This example, one of the most desirable images from the 1960s psychedelic era of rock and roll, sold for $1,020, over five times its low estimate. And collectors went ape over lot #102, a three-sheet color lithograph for “King of Jungleland” from 1949. Estimated at $50-$100, this poster, featuring a gorilla and Clyde Beatty, AKA the “World’s Greatest Animal Trainer," made $360.
Potter & Potter's Pop Culture event closed with exciting selections of archives, scripts, cels, mascots, and other items that defied or transcended collecting categories. Lot #220, two signed Jerry Mahoney character hand puppets from 1966, sold for $270 on a $50-$100 estimate. Lot #680, a Paul Reed Smith “Corazon” SE Santana solid body electric guitar, signed by Carlos Santana, hit its high note at $2,400. And lot #969, a library of astronaut-signed books and photographs from the 1960s/2010s, shot the moon at $5,040. This extraordinary archive included signatures of all twelve astronauts who have walked on the moon, the first American woman in space, the first African-American woman in space, and other notable astronauts, as well as an official NASA photograph taken and signed by Neil Armstrong showing Buzz Aldrin descending the ladder of the Apollo 11 Lunar Module on July 20, 1969.
"This was my first opportunity to work with the Potter & Potter crew, and they overdelivered on every level. Every person is smart, dedicated, and absolutely team-focused. They made sure that every aspect of this huge sale's preparation and execution was seamless. I am proud of many of the prices we achieved for our consignors, with strong bidding across so many categories,” stated Tom Miano, director of the Toys and Pop Culture Department at Potter & Potter Auctions.
Potter & Potter, founded in 2007, is a Chicago-area auction house specializing in paper Americana, vintage advertising, rare books, playing cards, gambling memorabilia, posters, fine prints, vintage toys, and magicana (antiques and collectibles related to magic and magicians).
For more information, visit www.potterauctions.com.